Sudan Expels Aid Groups After President Charged
March 5, 2009 | Read Time: 1 minute
At least 10 international aid organizations were kicked out of Darfur Wednesday after the International Criminal Court issued an arrest warrant charging Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir with war crimes and crimes against humanity, the Associated Press reports.
Among the affected groups were CARE, Oxfam, and branches of Doctors Without Borders and Save the Children. Sudan’s vice president said the organizations were using humanitarian efforts “as a cover to achieve a political agenda.”
While several dozen aid agencies remain in Darfur, United Nations officials said the ousted groups did most of the work. Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said Sudan’s move deals “a serious setback” to lifesaving operations in the region.
